Yarn tension device



April 29, 1952 w. T. STEARN YARN TENSION DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 FiledMay 2, 1950 INVENTOR. WILLIAM T. STEARN ATTORNEYS Apr 1952 w. T. STEARNYARN TENSION DEVICE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 2, 1950 INVENII'OR.WILLIAM T. STEARN Y K x ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 29, 1952 YARN TENSIONDEVICE William T. ,Stea'rn, Cumberland, Md., assignor to CelaneseCorporation of America, New York, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication May 2, 1950, Serial No. 159,581

12 Claims.

This invention relates to yarn tension devices and relates moreparticularly to adjustable yarn tension devices and to textile equipmentin connection with which said adjustable yarn tension devices areemployed.

In textile operations wherein yarn is drawn from one point to another,such as in the winding of yarn from a supply to a take-up package, it isnecessary to apply tension to the yarn during the winding operation. Ithas previously been proposed to apply tension to the yarn by devices ofvarious types such as discs, whorls, gates and springs. Some of thesetypes of tension devices are suitable for particular operations, but areunsuitable for others. Few are consistently satisfactory whereadjustments are necessary during the winding operation.

For example, in cone winding the yarn is drawn vertically from a supplypackage and, after passing through some form of'yarn tension device, istraversed by a reciprocating guide onto a cone tube. The cone tube ismounted on a mandrel driven at a constant speed so that as the yarnbuilds up on the cone tube the rate of yarn takeup increases. Thischange in the rate of-yarn take-up tends to increase the yarn tensionand some adjustment must be made in the yarn tension apparatus if theyarn tension is to be reduced during the entire winding operation, whichreduction in tension is necessary to obtain a satisfactory cone. Whenthe adjustments in the yarn tension devices must be made manually, theyarn tension is liable to considerable variation owing to faultyadjustments and to therelative infrequency with which the necessaryadjustments are made. The variations in yarn tension often lead to theproduction of defective cones.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a yarn tensiondevice which will be free from the foregoing and other disadvantages ofyarn tension devices previously employed and which will be especiallysimple in construction and efficient in use.

A further object of this invention is'to provide a readilyadjustableyarn tension device.

Another object of this invention isthe provision, in a textile apparatuswherein yarn is drawn from one point to another, of a yarn tensiondevice that is automatically adjusted during operation.

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, will be apparent from thefollowing-detailed description and claims.

til

ing operation.

According to the present invention, there is provided a yarn tensiondevice comprising a generally elongated friction surface, and meanspositioned at points spaced longitudinally of the frictionsurface forguiding the yarn generally longitudinally thereof and for bringing theyarn into contact therewith, said means being adjustable with respect toeach other so as to vary the extent of contact between the yarn and thefriction surface thereby to adjust the yarn tension. The frictionsurface may advantageously have a generally circular cross-section andcomprise a pair of tubes aligned one with the other. Yarn guide meansmay be positioned at points spaced axially of the tubes for guiding theyarn generally parallel to the axis of the tubes, and additional,adjustable yarn guide means may be positioned intermediate saidaforementioned yarn. guide means so as adjustably to wrap the yarnaround-the tubes, thereby to adjust the yarn tension readily over a widerange. The regulation of the yarn tension may be effected automaticallyby linking the adjustable yarn guide means to the textile equipment inwhich it is employed. For example, in a yarn-winding machine, the wrapof the yarn around the tubes may bedecreased automatically in proportionto the increase in the yarn take-up rate so as to reduce the tension onthe yarn during the wind- A preferred embodiment of the yarn tensiondevice of this invention as applied to a coning machine is shown in theaccompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of theyarn tension device and a portion of the coping machine to'which it isapplied,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 inthe direction of the arrows, and

Fig.3 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged ,in the manner shown inmy co-pending application S. No. 107,053, filed July 2'7, 1949, onto acone It in a manner well known in the art. The reciprocating guide I3 iscarried at the upper end by an arm l5 that is pivotally mounted onmachine frame It by means of a shaft l1. Fastened counterweight I8 torotate about the shaft H in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1).

The yarn tension device I2 comprises two chromium-plated stainless steeltubes I9 and 2| that are aligned one with the other. A brass plug 22having an annular ring 23 projecting therefrom is press-fitted into thelower end of the tube I9, and a similar brass plug 24 having an annularring 25 projecting therefrom is press-fitted into the upper end of thetube 2|. In the center, the two tubes I9 and 2| are separated one fromthe other by means of a brass plug 26 that has bosses 21 and 23projecting into the tubes I9 and 2| and is freely rotatable with respectto said tubes. Yarn guides, such as pigtails 29, 3| and 32, throughwhich the yarn II passes, are fastened to the plugs 22, 24 and 26, thepigtails 29 and 3| being aligned one with the other.

The plug 26 is secured to a shaft 33 extending lengthwise of the tubesI9 and 2| and mounted for free rotation with respect to the plugs 22 and24 in ball bearings 34 and 35 positioned internally of the annular rings23 and 25. The upper end of the shaft 33 extends through the plug 24 andhas fastened thereto a bevel gear 36 that meshes with a segmental bevelgear 31 mounted for free rotation on a stud 38. The bevel gear 31 islinked to the counterweight I8 by means of a rod 39. One end of the rod39 extends through an angle bracket 4| welded or otherwise fastened tothe counterweight I8, and is held in place by collars 42 positioned onboth sides of said bracket. The other end of the rod 39 extends throughthe bevel gear 31 at a point above the stud 38, and is held in place bycollars 43, positioned on both sides of said bevel gear. The yarntension device I2 is mounted on a U-shaped support 44, the stud 38extending through said support, the plug 22 being fastened to saidsupport by means of a bolt 45 in threaded engagement therewith, and theplug 24 being fastened to said support by means of a stud 46 in threadedengagement therewith. The U-shaped support 44 is attached to the machineframe I6 by means of a bracket 41.

In operation, when the winding of the yarn I I onto a cone I4 is tobegin, the arm I is rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) to movethe reciprocating guide I3 clear of the cone I4 and permit a new conetube to be placed in position. As the arm I5 rotates in a clockwisedirection, the rod 35 fastened thereto will cause the bevel gear 31 torotate in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) about the stud 38,driving the bevel gear 36 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2). Theclockwise rotation of the bevel gear 36 will cause the shaft 33 and theplug 25 fastened thereto to rotate in the same direction, moving thepigtail 32 in a clockwise direction as shown by the arrow in Fig. 2. Thelinkage between the counterweight I8 and the bevel gear 3l' and theratio of the bevel gear 36 to the bevel gear 31 is so designed that whenthe arm I5 is moved to the starting position, the pigtail guide 32 willbe aligned with the the pigtails 29 and 3|, permitting the yarn II to bethreaded readily through said pigtails and through the reciprocatingguide I3 for fastening to the cone I4. The arm I5 is then permitted torotate in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) until the reciprocatingguide I3 bears against the cone I4. The counterclockwise rotation of thearm I5 will cause the bevel gear 31 to rotate in a clockwise direction(Fig. 1), driving the bevel gear 36, the plug 26 and the pigtail 32 in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 2) wrapping the yarn I I around thetubes I9 and 2| as shown in Fig. 1.

The winding of the yarn II onto the cone I4 may then be started, thetension on the yarn I I being determined by the frictional forcesbetween said yarn and the tubes I9 and 2|. The frictional forces may beadjusted for tubes I9 and 2| of a given length and diameter, b varyingthe wrap of the yarn II around said tubes either by changing themechanical advantage of the linkage between the arm IS and the bevelgear 31, or by altering the ratio between the bevel gears 35 and 31 orby a combination of these expedients. As the yarn II builds up on thecone I4, which is driven at a constant speed, the rate of yarn take-upwill increase, which increase will tend to raise the yarn tension.Simultaneously, however, the yarn II wound on the cone I4 will cause thereciprocating guide I3, the arm I5 and the counterweight I8 to rotate ina clockwise direction (Fig. 1). The clockwise rotation of thecounterweight I8 will move the rod 39 to the left (Fig. l) and cause thebevel gear 31 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 1),driving the bevel gear 35, the shaft 33, the plug 26 and the pigtail 32in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2), thereby decreasing the wrap of theyarn II around the tubes I9 and 2| and tending to reduce the yarntension. With proper design, the reduction in yarn tension caused by thedecreased wrap of the yarn II around the tubes I9 and 2| will more thanbalance the increased yarn tension caused by the increased take-up rateof said yarn so that the yarn tension will be gradually reduced duringthe winding operation.

The yarn tension device of this invention has a considerable number ofadvantages over the devices previously used for this purpose. It ispositive acting and may be adjusted readily over an extremely widerange. It may be used successfully to wind yarn of extremely high twistwithout kinking, and also to wind yarns of extremely low twist withoutstripping fibers or filaments from the yarns. It reduces end breakageand improves yarn quality by eliminating the possibility of strainedyarns. It obviates underwinding the cones and bulged cones caused bytension variations and permits of better density control therebyproducing more uniformly wound cones even when the cones are wound witha high traverse. It also eliminates crushed cone tubes and permits ofthe use of lighter cone tubes effecting an important saving in costs. Ascompared with gates, the yarn tension device of this invention has alower threading time, permits of higher winding speeds, and lessfrequent cleanings, and produces fewer stoppages as the result ofvibration. In addition, because the area of contact between the yarn andthe friction surface changes continuously during operation, wear of thefriction surfaces against which the yarn bears occurs less rapidly.

While the yarn tension device of this invention has been described ashaving two tubes over which the yarn is drawn, it may be constructedwith only a single tube although this form of construction is somewhatless desirable.

It is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is givenmerely by way of illustration and that many variations may be madetherein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secureby-Letters Patentis:

1. A yarn tension device comprising a generally elongated frictionsurface, means positioned at points spaced longitudinally of thefriction surface for guiding the yarn generally'longitudinally of thefriction surface, and "means positioned intermediate said aforementionedmeansforbringing the yarn into free contact with the friction surface,said latter means being angularly adjustable to vary the extent of freecontact between the yarn and the friction surface thereby to adjust theyarn tension.

2'. A yarn tension device comprising a pair of generally elongatedfriction surfaces aligned one with the other, means positioned'at pointsspaced longitudinally of the friction surfaces for guiding a yarngenerally longitudinally of the friction surfaces, and means positionedintermediate said friction surfaces for bringing the yarn into freecontact with the friction surfaces, said latter means being angularlyadjustable to vary the extent of free contact between the yarn and thefriction surfaces thereby to adjust the yarn tension.

3. A yarn tension device comprising a friction surface having agenerally circular cross-section, means positioned at points spacedaxially of the friction surface for guiding a yarn generally paralleltothe axis of the friction surface, and means positioned intermediatesaid aforementioned means for bringing the yarn into contact with thefriction surface, said latter means being angularly adjustable to varythe extent of contact between the yarn and the friction surface therebyto adjust the yarn tension.

4. A yarn tension device comprising a pair of friction surfaces having agenerally circular crosssection aligned one with the other, meanspositioned at points spaced axially of the friction surfaces for guidinga yarn generally parallel to the axis of the friction surfaces. andmeans positioned intermediate said friction surfaces for bringing theyarn into contact with the friction surfaces, said latter means beingadjustable to vary the extent of contact between the yarn and thefriction surfaces thereby to adjust the yarn tension.

5. A yarn tension device comprising a pair of tubes aligned one with theother, yarn guide means positioned adjacent the ends of the tubes thatare spaced furthest from each other for guiding a yarn generallyparallel to the axis of the tubes, and a yarn guide means positionedintermediate the tubes for bringing the yarn into contact with thesurface of the tubes, said latter yarn guide means being adjustable tovary the extent of contact between the yarn and the tubes thereby toadjust the yarn tension.

6. A yarn tension device comprising a pair of tubes aligned one with theother, yarn guide means positioned adjacent the ends of the tubes thatare spaced furthest from each other for guiding the yarn generallyparallel to the axis of the tubes, a yarn guide means positionedintermediate the tubes for bringing the yarn into contact with thesurface of the tubes, and a shaft extending axially of at least one ofthe tubes for adjusting said latter yarn guide means to vary the extentof contact between the yarn and the tubes thereby to adjust the yarntension.

7. A yarn tension device comprising a pair of tubes aligned one with theother, yarn guide means fixedly positioned adjacent the ends of thetubes that are spaced furthest from each other for guiding a yarngenerally parallel to the axis of the tubes, and a yarn guide meanspositioned intermediate the tubes for bringing the yarn into contactwith the surface of the tubes, said latter yarn guide means beingrotatable with respect to the tubes to vary the extent of contactbetween the yarn and the tubes thereby to adjust the yarn tension.

8. A yarn tension device comprising a pair of tubes aligned one with theother, yarn guide means fixedly positioned adjacent the ends of thetubes that are spaced furthest. from "each other for guiding a yarngenerally parallel to the axis of the tubes, a yarn guide meanspositioned intermediate the tubes for bringing the yarn into contactwith the surface of the tubes, and means for rotating said latter yarnguide means with respect to the tubes to vary the extent of contactbetween the yarn and the tubes thereby to adjust the yarn tension.

'9. A yarn tension device comprising a pair of tubes aligned one withthe other, plugs fixedly positioned in the ends of the tubes that arespaced furthest from each other, yarn guide means fastened to said plugsfor guiding a yarn generally parallel to the axis of the tubes, a plugpositioned intermediate the tubes and rotatable with respect thereto,yarn guide means fastened to said latter plug for bringing the yarn intocontact with the surface of the tubes, and

a shaft extending axially of the tubes and fixed to said latter plug forrotating said plug and the yarn guide means fixed thereto to vary theextent of contact between the yarn and the tubes thereby to adjust theyarn tension.

10. In a yarn winding apparatus wherein yarn is drawn from a supply andwound on a take-up package driven at a constant rotational speed so thatthe rate of yarn take-up increases as the yarn builds up on the take-uppackage, a yarn tension device comprising a pair of generally elongatedfriction surfaces aligned one with the other, yarn guide meanspositioned at points spaced longitudinally of the friction surfaces forguiding a yarn generally longitudinally of the friction surfaces, yarnguide means positioned intermediate said friction surfaces for bringingthe yarn into free contact with the friction surfaces before it is woundon the take-up package, and means operated by the yarn on the take-uppackage for adjusting said latter yarn guide means angularly to reducethe extent of free contact between the yarn and the friction surfaces asthe yarn builds up on the take-up package and the rate of yarn take-upincreases thereby to adjust the tension on the yarn during the windingoperation.

11. In a yarn winding apparatus wherein yarn is drawn from a supply andwound on a take-up package driven at a constant rotational speed so thatthe rate of yarn take-up increases as the yarn builds up on the take-uppackage, a

yarn tension device comprising a pair of friction surfaces having agenerally circular crosssection aligned one with the other, yarn guidemeans positioned at points spaced axially of the friction surfaces forguiding a yarn generally parallel to the axis of the friction surfaces,yarn guide means positioned intermediate said friction surfaces forbringing the yarn into contact with the friction surfaces before it iswound on the take-up package, and means operated by the yarn on thetake-up package for adjusting said latter yarn guide means to reduce theextent of contact between the yarn and the friction surfaces as the yarnbuilds up on the take-up package and the rate of yarn take-up increasesthereby to adjust the tension on the yarn during the winding operation.

12. In a yarn winding apparatus wherein yarn is drawn from a supply andwound on a take-up package driven at a constant rotational speed so thatthe rate of yarn take-up increases as the yarn builds up on the take-uppackage, and the yarn is guided onto the take-up package by meansbearing against the take-up package and mounted on a pivotally supportedarm, a yarn tension device comprising a pair of tubes aligned one withthe other, plugs fixedly positioned in the ends of the tubes that arespaced furthest from each other, yarn guide means fixed to said plugsfor guiding a yarn generally parallel to the axis of the tubes, a plugpositioned intermediate the tubes and rotatable with respect thereto,yarn guide means fixed to said latter plug for bringing the yarn intocontact with the surface of the tubes before it is wound on the takeuppackage, a shaft extending axially of tubes and fixed to said latterplug for rotating said latter plug and the yarn guide means fixedthereto, and means including a link fastened to said pivotally supportedarm and a pair of gears fastened to said link and to said shaft forrotating said shaft to reduce the extent of contact between the yarn andthe tubes as the yarn builds up on the take-up package and the rate ofyarn take-up increases thereby to adjust the tension on the yarn duringthe winding operation.

WILLIAM T. STEARN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,113,243 Parent Oct. 13, 19141,187,912 Houghton June 20, 1916 1,997,709 Williams Apr. 16, 19352,223,912 Guenther Dec. 3, 1940 2,223,914 Karns Dec. 3, 1940

